Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
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aicolainen
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
My most carried EDC is the DF2 carried clipless in my right back pocket.
Like someone else mentioned, I too don't like to mix stuff in one pocket, but I also don't like to carry my knife where I can't easily grab it with my right hand, so phone gets the right front pocket and knife goes in my right back pocket.
The choice to remove the clip is a tradeoff. I find that keeping the clip on will help prevent a knife from sliding out by itself if I get into weird positions, but if I remove the clip the reduction in overall thickness makes it so that I will usually not even notice the knife when I sit down. I have an office job so I sit too much. And I don't loose that many knives anyway, so ultimately removing the clip has the bigger life improvement impact.
Anything larger than a DF2 I will clip to my back pocket as I'd otherwise feel the knife when sitting down.
When carrying in public I prefer that my knife goes unnoticed, and like to think that clipless in my back pocket solves that. But in reality it rather quickly leaves a permanent imprint on my pocket and it looks like I have a knife even when it's not there :D
Like someone else mentioned, I too don't like to mix stuff in one pocket, but I also don't like to carry my knife where I can't easily grab it with my right hand, so phone gets the right front pocket and knife goes in my right back pocket.
The choice to remove the clip is a tradeoff. I find that keeping the clip on will help prevent a knife from sliding out by itself if I get into weird positions, but if I remove the clip the reduction in overall thickness makes it so that I will usually not even notice the knife when I sit down. I have an office job so I sit too much. And I don't loose that many knives anyway, so ultimately removing the clip has the bigger life improvement impact.
Anything larger than a DF2 I will clip to my back pocket as I'd otherwise feel the knife when sitting down.
When carrying in public I prefer that my knife goes unnoticed, and like to think that clipless in my back pocket solves that. But in reality it rather quickly leaves a permanent imprint on my pocket and it looks like I have a knife even when it's not there :D
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Scandi Grind
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I wondered if I was the only one who liked the clip to help when opening. I have very small hands so an Endura is a bit awkward to open for me one handed with the backlock close bias, except by using the clip for leverage. I actually prefer two handed opening if I have to do it fast though because there is less risk of me slipping while trying to open.James Y wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 8:34 amI've never carried any Spyderco clipless, except for Ladybugs, which have no clips.
I even keep the clips on lightweight knives that I choose to carry down in pocket instead of clipped. Because the clip provides purchase for my fingers when one-hand opening. Otherwise, one-hand opening feels awkward for me.
Jim
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man."
-- Old Norse proverb
-- Old Norse proverb
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Red Leader
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Yep, titanium. I only have 1, a long clip, so while it is less tension than the Spyderco clip it replaced, it has a different leverage, so I cannot quite compare, but the opening of the clip where it rises up to allow room for a pocket seam is about the same as the Spyderco, and is just a touch too high for my tastes.Zbec27 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 10:46 amI'm actually right handed, my cell phone has always dominated my right pocket and I hate having multiple things in one pocket, so I would always carry a knife in my left pocket.Red Leader wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 10:24 amLefty?
I run into that problem too. Some of it is the large duckbill on the end of the Spyderco (and other's) clips that maybe is a tad more tall than it needs to be.
I just got a LynchNW clip for one of my PM2s and running into the same thing, so I'm sort of thinking that clip modification might just be a 'to taste' sort of thing to adjust.
Now I keep my knives in the cell phone or tool pocket, whatever you wanna call it, on the right pant leg.
Those Lynch clips are titanium right? I would imagine having a more rigid material snag would be a lot worse than the standard clips.
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Red Leader wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 7:50 pmYep, titanium. I only have 1, a long clip, so while it is less tension than the Spyderco clip it replaced, it has a different leverage, so I cannot quite compare, but the opening of the clip where it rises up to allow room for a pocket seam is about the same as the Spyderco, and is just a touch too high for my tastes.Zbec27 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 10:46 amI'm actually right handed, my cell phone has always dominated my right pocket and I hate having multiple things in one pocket, so I would always carry a knife in my left pocket.Red Leader wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 10:24 amLefty?
I run into that problem too. Some of it is the large duckbill on the end of the Spyderco (and other's) clips that maybe is a tad more tall than it needs to be.
I just got a LynchNW clip for one of my PM2s and running into the same thing, so I'm sort of thinking that clip modification might just be a 'to taste' sort of thing to adjust.
Now I keep my knives in the cell phone or tool pocket, whatever you wanna call it, on the right pant leg.
Those Lynch clips are titanium right? I would imagine having a more rigid material snag would be a lot worse than the standard clips.
That's a bummer. Guess it just boils down to which hassle a guy is willing to put up with. No solutions, only trade offs.
Last edited by Zbec27 on Sun Jan 11, 2026 8:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
BTW I have update my little review with some pictures of a PBTS: "Pocket Bottom Titanium Squeak." 
Here's one:

Here's one:

Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Chaparral, Delica, DF2, Firefly, Astute
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
If a knife is on me, it is 100% never clipped to my pocket, it is carried deep in pocket with a lanyard attached. (And I almost always have a knife on me.)
That said, I don't always remove the clips from my knives. When carrying in a bag, It's great to have the ability to clip it in place, hence my manix 2 still has a clip in addition to the lanyard/fob.
Grizz
That said, I don't always remove the clips from my knives. When carrying in a bag, It's great to have the ability to clip it in place, hence my manix 2 still has a clip in addition to the lanyard/fob.
Grizz
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Clipless = I will lose it, sooner or later. I cannot tell you how many Leatherman Micras have vanished from the bottom of my pocket. I have a small Victorinox that belonged to my late brother - it was actually a give I have him many years prior - and I am scared to death to carry that knife in my pocket for fear of losing it. Clips ROCK!
Delicas...only Delicas
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I carry my Delicas clipless. Bigger folders want the clip. Ladybugs are inherently clipless, but I seldom carry them. I gave one away and only have the SE Salt hawkbill Ladybug.
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Twinboysdad2
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
My most carried is a Manbug leaf with a lanyard to allow a 4 finger grip. The lanyard makes falling out of pocket much less likely. I was doing same set up with a Dfly Wharn and lost it at a high school wrestling dual which bothered me that it was lost on school property. The Dfly weighed enough that it fell out more often
Last edited by Twinboysdad2 on Mon Jan 12, 2026 7:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Aladinsane
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I carried my Caly3 and my Meerkat clipless for a while, but all the crap in my pocket marked up the exposed part of the blade, so I don’t go clipless anymore. The only exception is my Dyad Jr SPY27!!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
- Doc Dan
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I remove the clips from most of my knives and just drop the knives in my pocket. I guess it's mostly the way I grew up, but I've also seen pocket clips get snagged on things, and it also announced to everybody in the whole world that you have a knife. I don't live in New York City, but that's a bad idea in New York City, which is proven sadly true too many times. But still it does make the announcement and it's really not any more convenient.
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Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
NRA Life Member
Spydernation 0050
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
The finger grip for ease or one handed opening you get from a clip is IMHO better than the securing aspect. If there was a clip-less knife with a small protrusion I’d be more inclined to go without clips.
Regardless, my right pocket has my phone and knife. My left has keys, pen, flashlight. If the knife was just bouncing around I’d be concerned about scratching up the phone. Often I’ll clip a Dragonfly or similar in the watch-pocket, or put a Ladybug there. Never been much of a back pocket or IWB person.
Regardless, my right pocket has my phone and knife. My left has keys, pen, flashlight. If the knife was just bouncing around I’d be concerned about scratching up the phone. Often I’ll clip a Dragonfly or similar in the watch-pocket, or put a Ladybug there. Never been much of a back pocket or IWB person.
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Unclipped because NYC but leave the clip on because at work I like to clip it as needed during the day. I should just remove it though, because those days are rare. I prefer lockbacks because they stay closed
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Contrarian99
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I've been carrying my new Dyad Jr., which is clipless, and really enjoying it. It feels like an old school pocket knife with its dual blades and no clip. Although I do find myself checking my pocket more often, just making sure it's still there. It slips right along side my Chums wallet in my front pocket and is a nice change to having a clip visible on my pocket like with my other knives.
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Delica (with clip removed) loose in my right front pocket is my everyday carry - I never notice it and don't worry about it opening in my pocket (like I would with some designs)...it's a no-brainer for me, it's just like I'd carry a SAK or traditional pocket knife but with the convenience of one handed opening/closing
- warriorsociologist
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I usually carry my Native V knives clipless in my front pocket.
- Chris (a.k.a. "rigormootis" on some other forums)
*Current Top 3: Stretch 2 K390, PM2 Salt, Native V M4/PE...
*Wishing for: "Salty" Stretch 2 (Magnacut) & PM2 Wharncliffe in Magnacut
*Current Top 3: Stretch 2 K390, PM2 Salt, Native V M4/PE...
*Wishing for: "Salty" Stretch 2 (Magnacut) & PM2 Wharncliffe in Magnacut
Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
Yes, I always carry my WolfSpyder, Dragonfly, UKPK & Lil' Native deep pocket, clipless. I still held onto the clips and screws but I don’t think I’ll ever go back to putting them on again.
I grew up with a small folding knife, usually one of two I have from James Barber, always in my pocket so these four Spyderco knives feel great for keeping that tradition going.
Mark
I grew up with a small folding knife, usually one of two I have from James Barber, always in my pocket so these four Spyderco knives feel great for keeping that tradition going.
Mark
“You just made me have a bowel movement in my britches, Garrett. I ain't gonna never forgive you for this.”
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Mr_Whiskerz
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Re: Clipless Carry - Who dares ?
I lost my favorite Delica that way, so if it has a clip, I'm gonna use it.
